Author Topic: Cruella De Vil's new bike! Free Agent Inside. (Read 1361 times)

Rad Robbo · « **on:** August 01, 2010, 08:42 PM »

Had a great day at MK10 so I thought I'd show another update to my faithfull old Free Agent. I think the title explains the look I was after. I've changed the rims from my Buff Z'd rims to Araya Aero's with a Sturmey front hub and Suntour coaster rear, grips to B-1B's and my suede Kashimax Aero to a dalmation pattern. Not a lot of changes but makes for a different look! Thanks for all that took the time to look at the show and a small glimpse for those that couldn't be there. Don't worry it will be going back to how it originally was in 2008!

20to26 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2010, 05:33 PM »

That really is a stunning bike - I took quite a few piccies - I liked the mirror on the floor too - custom car show style.

What's the deal with the Sturmey front brake?

Do you have a cable splitter inside the headtube?

rollin72 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2010, 05:55 PM »

that is one seriously good looking bike, i think everyone at mk took pics of it, nice1 mate

Rad Robbo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2010, 08:18 PM »

Thanks for your kind words, as you may know from previous MK events I try different things every year to try and keep Jay and his great Haro collection on his toes!

So the idea behind the Sturmey came about by something that I didn't infact use on the bike this year and that was a Bandoian and Dixon rear alloy hub.(Pre VDC) I didn't want to pull my Buff Z rims apart in case I damaged them so I had to think about a new set of rims and a matching front hub. Everybody always tends to say that they prefered the aeros on it when it was first shown at MK so that was the way I went. Now the difficult bit, trying to find a matching front hub! Came across an old article in Freestylin' mag about Buffomatic using a Sturmey front brake hub around 84/85 so that was my answer and how the Sturmey came about.

When I fitted the wheel after getting it back from the shop Sat evening I put the wheel on and took the MX 1000 off but it meant loosing my Buffguard and I love my period accessories grip guards lever sleeves,etc so I refitted the front MX and anchored the sturmey brake cable to the MX's. Now this worked fine when I tried it out with just inner cables but when I fitted the outer cable there was too much slack in the top part so with no time to spare thats how it was at MK.

I guess this year it didn't please the judges too much so I won't try anything too extreme again

Looking forward to 2011 hope its at MK as its always a pleasure to witness everybodys efforts and builds.

20to26 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2010, 08:39 PM »

very interesting - so that setup actually works?

Rad Robbo · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2010, 08:45 PM »

As it stands "For Show Use Only" but with a bit of thought I can't see why not. If the Sturmey cable slips at least you still have the caliper to save your teeth!